Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-11-02

EothIng to wearl''
why. my dear child, where is that
handsome silk / saw your husband
buy?"
You must be Mistaken - 1 faltered.
''Oh, indeed, but there is no mistake
about 1t, my dear. / saw him pay for
1t, and have it cut off; ii was at Dray-
toms some three weeks ago; the hand
soonest navy blue, S3 yard.
The words of the torn letter fash ed
across my bewildered mind: The
dresses are all ready, and the navy blue
Is exquisite
4 sudden suspicion, a suspicion
sharp as death itself, possessed my soul;
suspicion that some otner woman
had come between me and my husband.
The room and its occupants seemed to
reel before my eyes, but | controlled
myself with desperate effort.
My husband must have bought the
articles for another party" 1 said.
"Ah, there is baby's voice. Pray ex-
cuse me for one moment, Mrs. Wick
life"
She went away with a pltyIng look
III her eyes, leaving me as miserable as
woman can be.
About $3.50 gave baby a sound dose
OF soothing syrup, and tucked him
away ia crib; then l locked up the
house, and, arrayed in my rusty al
paca, sailed forth.
must know the truth. l went to
my husbands office first. He had lust
left With the terrible suspicion in
my soul growing into a torturing cer-
tainty, bent my steps. through wind
and rain, toward the railway station.
There was but one in our little coun-
try town, and the afternoon train was
due at 4.
L truged on, and reached the depot
just as the train came steaming In.
The very first man 1 saw was Charlie,
his hat pushed back, his handsome face
in glow of eager expectation.
What | felt at that moment no words
can describe; only woman's foolish,
fond, jealous heart may know. L
shrunk out of sight, and concealed
myself behind some bales of cotton.
In came the train, and in two min
utes little lady, all befrilled and
closely veiled, appeared on the plat
form.
'Oh, Charliel''
''Ah, my dear, here you are!"
And he took her in his arms and
kissed her, and carried her off to a
waiting carriage. A porter followed
with her trunk, and then they whirled
away together.
Standing there, like a guilty crea-
ture, i'll the wind and rain, with my
woman's pride and my woman's love
both outraged and lnsulted, / looked
down towards the sullen waters of the
river below the town. There was a
cure for ali my pain. But L remem-
bered baby.
L must live and endure for baby's
sake. l turned my back upon the
sullen water and my face homewsrd,
and groped on through the mud and
RAIN, blind and almost unconscious in
my misery.
came in sight of 1t, every window in d
blaze. What if it had taken firei The
thought winged my weary feet l
rushed on breathleSsly.
Charlie confronted me as L burst
open the kitchen door, with baby III
ms arms.
"Well, bless my soulI Jennie,
where under the sun have you beenp
L found the house all locked up and
! the poor child screaming itself to
death, and L had to break open the
window to get in. What has hap
Pened. jennie? Good heavens! you
are ILL.,"
L caught a glimse of a face beyond
him, a wOman's sweet face, and as I
recognized her my overstrung nerves
gave way.
Charlie caught me as 1 fell, and
when | awoke to life again his arms
still held me; his dear. faithful arms.
kitty-my sister kitty--who had
| been off in Europe for years, stood
near by, with baby in her arms.
With my head Oh ChariIe's shoulder,
| in pain and humiliation, | made my
| confession. His handsome eyes looked
at me, full of grave tenderness, when
! he understood all.
"Jennie's little goose" said Kitty
as she kissed me and cried over me,
and then | heard the explanation of
| the mystery.
Kitty was coming home, but she
wanted 10 keep her coming secret in
| order to give me great and glad sur
prise. She WAS obliged to remain for
some weeks In the city with the family
for whom she had been governess for
a number of years. Knowing this, and
wishing to make my surprise doubly
pleasant, Charlie purchased material
! for couple of handsome dresses and
! expressed 1t to Kitty that she might
have them stylishly made up.
L said that day badly begun rarely
| ends well, but l must take 1t back.
No day that ever dawned ended more
| joyously than that.